Devendra Fadnavis, during his first term as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, created a separate ministry for OBC welfare for the first time in India. This was a revolutionary decision politically and socially, as a significant part of the population of our country and Maharashtra falls under the Other Backward Classes that need encouragement and opportunities to overcome many hurdles in education and other socio-economic areas. The Ministry of Other Backward Classes in Maharashtra is dedicated to the welfare of the OBC communities, ensuring that they benefit through the various beneficial schemes of the government and even providing legal solutions to the problems faced by the OBC communities.
Devendraji, being a dynamic and progressive person, has made many reformative decisions as the CM of the state, going against the status quo. Creating India’s first Ministry of OBC Welfare under his government to empower the Other Backward Classes is one such decision that initiated inclusive development for the state. Devendraji went above casteism to embrace the path of inclusive development by lifting the educational and social standing of the backward class people in the state.
Maharashtra OBC Ministry – Ministry of OBC Maharashtra
The bulk of the population in India comes from other backward classes, and Maharashtra is no exception. Despite being large in population, the OBCs lag in education and employment, and do not have proper political representation to get what they deserve. To help them, the government has introduced various beneficial schemes, including reservations in educational institutions and jobs. However, more needs to be done, and proper utilization of the benefits to improve the lives of the OBCs must be monitored. The OBC communities expect more focused welfare schemes and development policies from the government. Earlier, schemes related to the OBC community were implemented under the Social Justice Department. However, since this department had to look after other communities’ affairs as well, for example, the Deaf community, Nomadic Tribes, and Divyangs, it was not always possible to address the OBC issues and welfare promptly. The OBC community was also demanding a separate department. Considering all these situations, Devendra Fadnavis decided to create a separate ministry of OBCs, seeing the workload of the Social Justice Department.
Devendra Fadnavis’ Pro-OBC stand
Devendraji has stood by OBCs since the first day he entered politics. From the beginning of his political career, he earnestly tried to bring together not only OBCs but all communities in the society, providing justice and initiating developments to bring about positive changes to all sections of society. He has always maintained that OBCs, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes must not be deprived of justice due to their lack of educational and financial power. He always gives examples of the conditions of the balutaders in the OBCs and other backward castes. There is very little difference between the conditions of OBCs and the Scheduled Castes. To give them relief, Devendraji fought against crimes against OBCs in Maharashtra. The limit of the compensation was increased to 8 lakhs. Due to these firm positions and decisions of his, he is always seen to be pro-OBC. While showing the path of development to the OBCs, he did not alienate the Maratha community. He has always supported both communities with equal force. He was the first to approve the Maratha reservation. Many schemes were started for Maratha youth through Sarathi Sanstha. Financial support was provided to youth for business through Annasaheb Patil Financial Corporation.
Devendra Fadnavis’ policy for the welfare of OBCs
During his tenure as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019, Devendra Fadnavis, as an accomplished leader, implemented development schemes for all sections of the state. He tried to understand the problems of the OBC community and provide justice to them. Apart from reservations, Devendraji also implemented several welfare schemes for the OBCs to improve their living standards socially, educationally, and economically. Creating a Ministry of OBC Welfare was a decisive step forward to achieving this.
Devendraji believed that by creating a separate department for the OBC community, it would help him address the issues and development of this community more specifically. Such a method had not been considered before in any state in the country. Through this separate department, welfare schemes meant for OBCs could be introduced, and most importantly, their benefits could be made available to the deserving people. This department created a medium to convey the problems of the general OBC community directly to the government.
The OBC Ministry was established in 2016
The then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had decided to establish a separate department for Scheduled Castes, Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Classes in the state cabinet meeting on 27th December 2016. His decision was a historic one. No state in India had taken such a decision till now. His decision was welcomed by leaders of the OBC community, social reformers, and common citizens.
New OBC Ministry focuses on developmental schemes
To continue with the ongoing welfare schemes that will benefit the OBC community, adequate funds were made available for their effective implementations. Also, a mechanism was adopted to ensure that the results of these schemes reached the desired beneficiaries. Some new policies were formulated for the social, educational, and economic development of OBCs. Plans were made through the OBC department to create educational opportunities for the youth of this community and to provide them with vocational training. So that they can be self-employed and create employment opportunities for others. The establishment of the OBC Ministry provided a platform for the redressal of the social problems of the citizens of this community and complaints related to various schemes. At the same time, the OBC Ministry played an important role in ensuring the representation of OBCs in government institutions and various decision-making processes related to society. The creation of the OBC Ministry was his commitment to the OBC community, which he materialized. It was a big step towards solving the problems faced by OBCs and including them in the development story of Maharashtra.
Establishment of corporations for the welfare of various communities by the Mahayuti government
After the Mahayuti government came to power in the state in 2022, decisions were taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to provide social and economic development to every section of society. In this direction, the Mahayuti government established corporations of various castes and tribes as given below, which include the corporations of the different sections of the OBC community.
1. Jagatjyoti Mahatma Basaveshwar Economic Development Corporation (Lingayat Society)
2. Sant Kashiba Gurav Yuva Economic Development Corporation (Gurav Society)
3. Raje Umaji Naik Economic Development Corporation (Ramoshi Society)
4. Peilwan Maruti Chavan-Vadar Economic Development Corporation (Vadar Society)
5. Sant Shiromani Gorobakaka Maharashtra Matikala Mandal (Kumbhar Society)
6. Sant Senaji Maharaj Keshalpi Mahamandal (Nabhik Society)
7. Sant Shri Ruplal Maharaj Economic Development Corporation (Bari Samaj)
8. Sant Shri Santaji Maharaj Economic Development Corporation (Teli Samaj)
9. Economic Development Corporations for Hindu-Khatik Community
10. Sant Gadge Baba Bara Balutedar Economically Backward Development Corporation (Bara Balutedar Samaj)
11. Sola Kusaswamini Economic Development Corporation (Vani Samaj)
12. Brahmalin Acharya Divyanand Puriji Maharaj Economic Development Corporation (Lohar Samaj)
13. Sant Namdev Maharaj Economic Development Corporation (Shimpi Samaj)
14. Shri Krishna Economic Development Corporation (Gawli Samaj)
15. Agri Samaj Corporation (Agri Samaj)
16. Sant Narhari Maharaj Economic Development Corporation (Sonar Samaj)
17. Late Vishnupant Ramchandra Dadre (Lonari) Economic Development Corporation (Lonari Samaj)
18. Sant Bhojling Kaka Carpenter Society Economic Development Corporation (Carpenter Society)
19. Vinkar Society Economic Development Corporation (Vinkar Society)
Institutions and Corporations Working under OBC Department
1. Directorate of Other Backward Classes Welfare, Pune
2. Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission, Pune
3. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (Mahajyoti), Nagpur
4. Maharashtra Research, Upliftment and Training Prabodhini (Amrut), Mumbai
5. Maharashtra State Other Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, Mumbai
6. Vasantrao Naik Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes Development Corporation, Mumbai
7. Mahatma Phule Development Corporation
8. Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhaus Sathe Development Corporation
9. Sant Rohidas Leather Industry Development Corporation
10. Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Goat, Sheep Development Corporation
11. Shamrao Peje Konkan Other Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation
The Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis decided to establish a separate department (OBC Ministry) for De-Employed Castes, Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Classes.
Cabinet Decision – 27 December 2016
Following the decision of the Cabinet, the General Administration Department issued a notification on 9 March 2017 establishing the Department of Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Classes.
Notification – 9 March 2017
After establishing the ‘Department of Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Classes’, the government decided to rename the department as ‘Other Backward Classes, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Nomadic Tribes and Special Backward Classes Welfare’. Accordingly, the decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting on 16 July 2019 and its notification was published by the General Administration Department on 29 August 2019.
Cabinet Decision – 16 July 2019
Since the name of ‘Other Backward Classes, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, De-Mukt Castes, Nomadic Tribes and Special Backward Classes Welfare Department’ was too long, the government was considering shortening it. Accordingly, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Minister of the concerned department. In this meeting, it was decided to rename the said department as ‘Bahujan Welfare Department’. Accordingly, in the cabinet meeting of 12 February 2020, it was decided to rename the Other Backward Classes Department as ‘Bahujan Welfare Department’.
Cabinet Decision – 12 February 2020
The Department of ‘Other Backward Classes, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Nomadic Tribes and Special Backward Classes Welfare’ has been renamed as ‘Bahujan Welfare Department’. Its Government Decision was published on 17th February 2020.
Government Decision – 17th February 2020
The decision to partially change the name of the ‘Bahujan Welfare Department’ and rename it as ‘Other Backward Classes and Bahujan Welfare Department’ was taken in the meeting of the State Cabinet on 24th February 2020.
Cabinet Decision – 24th February 2020
The government issued a government order on March 2, 2020, after the Cabinet decided to rename the ‘Bahujan Welfare Department’ as ‘Other Backward Classes Bahujan Welfare Department’.
Government Order – March 2, 2020